Folding basket carrier



Jan. 27, 1948. s. N. GOLDMAN 2,434,998

FOLDING BASKET CARRIER Filed Nov. 6, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sylvan N.Goldman Jan. 27, 1948. I s. N. GOLDMAN 2,434,998

FOLDING BASKET CARRIER Filed Nov. 6, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' 85 v &7 m s74 70 at 82 I Ty/vb); Goldman Jan. 27, 1948.

S. N. GOLDMAN FOLDING BASKET CARRIER Filed Ndv e, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 3MN. MN N u NQ. M Q g Mm a SS 1 R R QM (5am. NN (IQN um j 5 ox. w MN 0J'y/Van 1v Goldman Patented Jan. 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2';4s4,99s FOLDIfiGfiE'ASKETfiAiRiER Sylvan N: Goldman, Oklahoma-City,Okla. Application Nov-enters, 1946, Serial No. 708,148 eclaims. (01.2:20:42)

This invention" relates to carts especially" employed in grocerystores.It has'been proposed to build carts or carriers for use by customers ingrocery stores for conveying purchases, 'but'sin'ce such carts mustbeof;apredetermined length and. width to "support thewirebaskets-carried thereon a large area is required to store the carts. Dueto the limited floor" surface of agreat many stores it is necessaryto'either limit the number m of carriers or the business equipment.

It is an object of the present invention to construct carriers whichmaybe readily collapsed or reformed by the'manipuiation'ofcrtain"elements so that a number of carts maybe stored in the spaceformerly occupiedby'a singlecarrier.

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a carrier for useby'customers in'a'g'rocery or other store in which the raising'of'a Wirebasket-supporting grid to' a vertical position for reception by socketsat one 'sideofthe carrier will permit folding of the'earriers'o'thatthe'sids thereof and the wheels may be moved into close association whenthe carriers are -stc'ired,"thereby reducing the storagespaceforin'e'rlyreqi -iired A further object of the invention is theprovision of a collapsible or foldable sturdy carrier in which a wirebasket-supporting grid is employed for retaining the side walls, in theform of metal frame-works, in an extended-position when the carrier isused as a conveyance but which grid may be tilted to a vertical-positionand lowered in sockets in one sidewall of the carrier to permit foldingof said carrier, the handle bar for operating the carrier being tiltablymounted so that the bar may be moved to an inoperative and verticalposition when the carrier is folded.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view inelevation of acarrier constructed inaccordance 'with the principles'of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front end view in elevation of the carrier.

Figure 3 is a plan view-of the'carrieru Figure 4 is a transversevertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section'ta'ken along the line 55 ofFigure 1.

Figure 6 is a side viewin'eleva tio'n of the car'- rier shown in foldedconditionfand Wall being in Figure '7" is a rear end view elevation" ofthe folded earner shown menu-rec. I

' Referring "more particularly 'to' the I drawings, 10 a'nd'll designatea pair "of side walls, ch the form'of arrame-"workina e of metal. "Eachwall is mounted on "a basefH supported by pairs of wheels {3 "and 14.The sidewalls are connecte'dtcgether by fro'ritj'aind rear lazy ton'gs,the tongs being designated respectively by the numeralsl'i andjIjG. v

Each sidewall includes the base: 2 in the of a flat bar to which at thelowerends are welded spaced parallel vertical'bars ZWahdZl. Eachvertical bar has a tfiset upprehq 22 Which is provided witha'horizontalflange23 welded to the bridge portion Oran jinvertedhorizontal channel iron. "The channeliroh'pfthe; sidewall I0 isdesignated by the numeral 24 While "a"siri1" ilar channel iron "25 isincludedin the side wall II. A curvedbi'ac'e bar "26 Vhasth'e lower endsecured t the onset '22'of'th'e vs icfal bar "20 of each side wall.Th'eothe'r en'djofthe'brace bar has a horizontal flange 21 welded'tpthe-in nerfnd f 'ch'ann1'bar124orf25. The'fre 'erid of thebrace baristurned upwardly as fshown at 28. IA braceZQ at the front end of: eachside wall 7 has the lower end secured to the "offset 122 of'thevertical'bar 2|. The upper end of "said brace bar has-"a horizontallilange and "a ver- The flange-cu or tnejbraee par is Welded to thefront end oithechannelfmlemer h e ifl a i efw 'p' 'th t b ve a is weldedt'pthechanneltbafiZE BO ti 'dewans l 0 and I I *are substantiallyidentical ih"construe tion.

A guide 3'2 having'aveitical "groove"33"- is secured to eachofjthefofisets 2-2 tweetersarths 20 and-2|. The laa'y tongs [5't'thefront of the carrier include diagonally arrari gedl-inks 35 "and36 which h'ave oppositely disposed offset portions 31 pivoted on a pinor bolt 38. The link ss frias its lower end' pivoted on a b olt'carriedJoy the lower portion of' one of'thebars or-legs 2 The other link '36is'pivoted on-a bblt dflcarried by the other bar 2| at the front of:the'carrier. Each of the links '35 and 36 has a pi n 4| at the upper endthereof riding in one of the grooves '33-in the guides 32. The lowerendof eachgr'oove 33 is clo sed to forina stop for limiting the dow'n-*ward movement of the pm when the carrier is in an operative position,as shown in Figure On the other hand, the pins ride to the upper ends ofthe grooves when thecarrier'is folded (Fig. 6).

The lazy tongs 'I'B'atthe rear of the carrier is identical inconstruction with the lazy tongs l5 at the front and therefore the samereference numerals are applied to similar elements of both lazy tongs.

The lower ends of the links 35 of both tongs are connected together bybrace bars 42 and gusset plates 43 at the ends of said bars 42. Theupper ends of the links 35 are connected together by bars 44 and gussetplates 45. The lower ends of the links 36 and the upper ends of thelinks are connected together in the same manner as are the links 35.

Gusset plates 49 are welded to the lower ends of the vertical bars 20and 2| of each of the side walls of the carrier. The plates are alsosecured to the base bars I2 thereby fixing the vertical bars rigidly inposition.

Bumpers 50 which may be in the form of rub- I ber or wooden rollers 5|are carried by axles 52. A bracket 53 connected to each front verticalbar 2| has a bearing for the upper end of the axle 52. A member 54braces the bracket 53. The lower end of each vertical bar 2| has ahorizontal flange 55 extending forwardly of the carrier and said flangeshave bearings for the lower ends of the axles 52. The bumpers, thussupported, project forwardly of the carrier.

A grid generally designated by the numeral 69 is composed oflongitudinal parallel bars 61 and B2 and transverse bars as shown inFigure 3. The transverse bars 63 having one end inturned to providedepending lips 64-a.

The channel bar 25 has spaced slots or sockets 65 (Fig. 4) for receivingthe lips li4-a. The channel bar 24 has a plurality of spaced openings orslots 65 to receive the free ends 6'! of all of the bars 63 and 64 atthat side of the grid where the channel bar 24 is located. The free ends5'! of the bars 63 and B4 are adjacent the outer flange of the channelbar 24 and cooperate with the lips 64-11 for retaining the side walls ofthe carrier in spaced relation and said carrier in operative runningcondition.

A handle bar 10 of cylindrical form has a longitudinal slot ill-a and apair of depending spaced flanges 1| pivoted on apin 12 carried by a bar13 which has a curved free end 14 located within the hollow bar 10. Thebar 13 is secured at right angles to a vertical bracket 15 having ahorizontal arm 16 secured to the inner flange of the channel bar 24.

A bar H has a notch 18 which receives a pin '19 carried by a pair offlanges 89 depending from and formed integrally with the hollow handlebar it. The upper end of the bar is semicircular as shown at 8|, and isdisposed in the handle bar 19. A pin 82 is mounted in the upper end ofthe bar and disposed within the handle bar with the ends of the pin inengagement with the inner wall of the hollow handle bar at diametricallyopposite points.

A bracket 83 is secured to the bar H at right angles thereto. Ahorizontal arm 84 of the bracket is securedto the inner flange of thechannel member 25 (Figure 2).

Guards 85 to hold the wire baskets 86 on the rack or grid 66 arehingedly mounted on pins 8'! carried by the upturned flanges 28 and 3|at the upper ends of the respective braces 26 and 29 (Figure 1)associated with the pairs of vertical bars and 2|. Each guard consistsof a. flat strap of metal which has the free end bent inwardly as shownat 83, in Figure 1, and the bent ends are hingedly mounted on the pins81.

Each front wheel I4 is mounted on an axle. 90

carried by a bracket 9| which is swivelled on the flange 55 (Figs. 1 and2). Each rear wheel I3 is mounted on an axle 92 carried by a uard plate93 and a brace bar 94, (Figs. 6 and 7).

The operation of my device is as follows:

The carrier is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive as ready for useby a customer in any type of store or business place with the handle bar19 and grid in operative positions for retaining the side walls orframes in spaced parallel relation so that the baskets 86 may besupported on the grid. The guards 85 are placed in a horizontal planeabove the grid .to maintain the baskets on the carrier.

When not in use, the carriers are folded and placed in storage. In orderto fold the carrier, the

baskets 86 are removed and stacked within each other. The portion of thegrid adjacent the channel iron 25 is raised as shown in dotted lines inFigure 2, with the walls of the slots or sockets 66 in the channel iron24 acting as sliding pivots for the free ends 6'! of the transverse bars63 and 64 of the grid 6!]. When the grid has been elevated to a verticalposition, the free portions 61 of the transverse bars Will have beenlowered to the utmost and the longitudinal bar 62 of the rid will restupon the-top of the inverted channel iron 24.

The release of the grid will permit the side frames or walls to be movedtoward each other in parallel relation due to the action of the lazytongs l5 and 16. As the side frames are forced toward each other thepins 4| will ride upwardly in the slots 33 of the guides 32 carried bythe respective uprights or vertical bars 20 and 2|. During thisoperation, the hollow handle bar will slide on the curved upper edge 8!of the bar Tl (Fig. 5), while the pin 19 is moving out of the slot 18 inthe depending flanges rigid with the hollow bar 10. At the same time theflanges H on the other end of the bar Ill are pivoting on the pin 72. Asthe handle '10 moves toward the right in Figure 5, the pin 82 guides thehandle bar downwardly to the position shown in Figures 6 and 7, whilethe bar 11 rides through the slot Ill-a, whence the carrier will becollapsed completely and ready for storage.

When restoring the carrier to its normal operative condition, the stepsjust enumerated are reversed. In other words, the side frames are pulledapart and guided in parallel relation by the lazy tongs l5 and Hi. Thepins 4| riding downwardly in the slot 33 of the guides 32 will reach thelower closed ends of said slots and will limit the outward movement ofthe side frames. The handle bar slides automatically into position.

The grid 60 is lifted and moved to a horizontal position and the lips64-a on one end of each of the transverse bars 63 are seated in thesockets 65 formed in the channel bar 25. Thus the pins 4| carried by theupper ends or the links forming the lazy tongs cooperate with the gridand the channel irons 24 and 25 for maintaining the carrier in workingcondition.

The pin 19 is in engagement with the walls of the notches l9 and thehandle bar 10 is restrained from sliding movement when the carrier hasbeen assembled.

When the carrier has been folded the guards B5 are moved from thehorizontal positions shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, to the verticalpositions shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Although a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention isdisclosed herein, it is to be understood that Various modifications maybe made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foldable wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,lazy tongs connecting the side frames together so that said frames maybe moved toward or away from each other in parallel relation, a basketsupporting grid removably mounted on the tops of the frames, cooperatingmeans on the grid and frames for aiding in retaining the frames inspaced relation, a hollow handle bar, a bracket secured to each frameand extending upwardly therefrom, means pivotally connecting one end ofthe hollow bar on one end of one bracket and means slidably connectingthe other end of the hollow bar with the other bracket.

2. A foldable wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,lazy tongs connecting the side frames together so that said frames maybe moved toward or away from each other in parallel relation, a basketsupporting grid formed of lonitudinal bars and transverse bars connectedto the longitudinal bars with the free ends of the transversebarsprojecting beyond the longitudinal bars, the upper edge of each sideframe having sockets therein to receive the adjacent ends of thetransverse bars.

3. A foldable wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,lazy tongs connecting the side frames together so that said frames maybe moved toward or away from each other in parallel relation, a basketsupporting grid formed of longitudinal bars and transverse barsconnected to the longitudinal bars with the free ends of the transversebars projecting beyond the longitudinal bars, a lip depending from oneend of certain transverse bars, the upper edge of one side frame havingsockets to receive the lips, the upper edge of the other side framehaving sockets to receive the other ends of the transverse bars, ahandle bar and cooperating means on the bar and frames for slidably andtiltably mounting the bar on the frame.

4. A foldable Wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,lazy tongs connecting the side frames together so that said frames maybe moved toward or away from each other in parallel relation, a basketsupporting grid formed of longitudinal bars and transverse barsconnected to the longitudinal bars with the free ends of the transversebars projecting beyond the longitudinal bars, a lip depending from oneend of certain transverse bars, the upper edge of one side frame havingsockets to receive the lips, the upper edge of the other side framehaving sockets to receive the other ends of the transverse bars, saidgrid being tiltable to a vertical position when the carrier is folded sothat the last-mentioned ends of the transverse bars will move throughthe associated sockets until a longitudinal bar rests on the top of aside frame.

5. A foldable wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,pairs of lazy tongs connecting the side frames together, each framehaving an inverted channel bar at the top thereof, said channel barsprovided with spaced slots, at basket-supportin grid includingtransverse bars, a lip on an end of certain transverse bars received bythe slots in one channel bar, the other ends of the transverse barsbeing received by the slots in the other channel bar, said grid beingtiltable before the carrier is folded so that the last-mentioned ends ofthe transverse bars will slide through the associated slots and retainthe grid in a vertical position, a handle bar, and cooperating means onthe bar and channel bars for slidably and tiltably mounting the handlebar on the channel bars.

6. A foldable wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,pairs of lazy tongs connecting the side frames together, each framehaving an inverted channel bar at the top thereof, said channel barsprovided with spaced slots, a basket supporting grid includingtransverse bars, a lip on an end of certain transverse bars received bythe slots in one channel bar, the other ends of the transverse barsbeing received by the slots in the other channel b-ar, said grid beingtiltable before the carrier is folded so that the last-mentioned ends ofthe transverse bars will slide through the associated slots and retainthe grid in a vertical position, a bracket secured to an end of eachchannel bar, a handle bar having one end hingedly mounted on onebracket, and means on the other bracket for slidably connecting theother end of the handle bar on said bracket.

7. A foldable wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,lazy tongs connecting the side frames together so that said frames maybe moved toward or away from each other in parallel relation, a basketsupporting grid removably mounted on the tops of the frames, cooperatingmeans on the grid and frames for aiding in retaining the frames inspaced relation, guards for supporting baskets on the grid when locatedin a horizontal plane, said guards being movable into vertical planeswhen the carrier is folded, a handle bar and cooperating means on thebar and frames for slidably and tiltably mounting the bar on the frame.

8. A foldable wheeled carrier comprising a pair of spaced side frames,pairs of lazy tongs connecting the side frames together, each framehaving an inverted channel bar at the top thereof, a basket-supportinggrid carried by the channel bars and aiding in retaining the frames inan operative position, one side edge of the grid being hingedly andslidably mounted on one channel bar so that the grid may be moved from ahorizontal to a vertical position, cooperating means on the otherchannel bar for retaining the grid in a horizontal position, and atiltable handle bar connected to the channel bars.

SYLVAN N. GOLDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,234,797 Parmenter July 21, 19172,020,766 Brown Nov, 12, 1935 2,089,436 Schwabe Aug. 10, 1937 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 334,472 Great Britain Sept. 4, 1930

